Letter to the editor about opposition to Utah HB 129

Have gun, will travel

I am a Utah concealed firearms permit instructor, a member of the National Rifle Association and a huge supporter of gun rights. But I am opposed to the current proposal to become a “constitutional carry” state, which means allowing Utahns to carry concealed weapons in Utah without having a permit.

There are no more restrictions placed on a person to obtain a concealed firearm permit than already exist to purchase a gun from a licensed dealer. The benefit of obtaining a permit is learning the law about when and where a person may carry and when it is justified to use force.

This protects the rights of our citizens by not placing them in a situation where they may act out of ignorance and lose their gun rights or their freedom. Government is to protect its citizens and their rights, and the current permit process does that.

By removing the requirement for a permit, we limit the ability of Utahns to carry outside of Utah. I need a permit to travel with a concealed gun, and Utah’s permit is recognized by 33 states.

Protect our citizens from inadvertently breaking the law, and allow us the freedom to travel with our guns.